Wang Zongyue

In this Chinese name, the family name is Wang.

王宗岳 Wang Zongyue
Born	China
Nationality	Chinese
Style	Tai chi
Notable students	Chen Wangting

Wang Zongyue
Chinese	王宗岳
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wáng Zōngyuè

Wang Zongyue was a legendary figure in the history of Chinese martial art tai chi. In some writings, Wang is supposed to have been a student of the equally legendary Zhang Sanfeng, a 13th-century Taoist monk credited with devising neijia in general and tai chi in particular.

Wang is said to have resided in Taigu, Shanxi in the middle of the 15th Century. He learned an early form of tai chi in the Jingtai Taoist Temple in Baoji. Two of Wang's supposed disciples, Chen Wangting and Jiang Fa, went on to make important contributions to the development of modern tai chi.

Wang is reputed to have authored The Tai Chi Treatise, alleged by the Wu brothers to have been found in Beijing as part of the Salt Shop Manuals in the mid 19th century. This treatise records many tai chi proverbs; among them: "four ounces deflect one thousand pounds" and "a feather cannot be added; nor can a fly alight". The Tai Chi Treatise is among a body of literature collectively referred to as the tai chi classics.

Tai chi lineage tree

Note:

• This lineage tree is not comprehensive, but depicts those considered the "gate-keepers" and most recognised individuals in each generation of the respective styles.
• Although many styles were passed down to respective descendants of the same family, the lineage focused on is that of the martial art and its main styles, not necessarily that of the families.
• Each (coloured) style depicted below has a lineage tree on its respective article page that is focused on that specific style, showing a greater insight into the highly significant individuals in its lineage.
• Names denoted by an asterisk are legendary or semi-legendary figures in the lineage; while their involvement in the lineage is accepted by most of the major schools, it is not independently verifiable from known historical records.

Key:

Solid lines

Direct teacher-student.

Zhang Sanfeng* c. 12th century NEIJIA

Dashed lines

Individual(s) omitted.

Various Taoists

Legendary figures

Dotted lines

Partial influence /taught informally /limited time.

Wang Zongyue* TAI CHI

Dashed cross

Branch continues.

Chen Wangting 1580–1660 CHEN-STYLE

(蒋法) Jiang Fa Zhaobao-style

(陈汝信) Chen Ruxin 2nd gen. Chen

(陈所乐) Chen Suole 2nd gen. Chen

(邢喜怀) Xing Xihuai 2nd gen. Zhaobao

(陈大鹍) Chen Dakun 3rd gen. Chen

(陈大鹏) Chen Dapeng 3rd gen. Chen

(陈光印) Chen Guangyin 3rd gen. Chen

(陈申如) Chen Shenru 3rd gen. Chen

(陈恂如) Chen Xunru 3rd gen. Chen

(陈正如) Chen Zhengru 3rd gen. Chen

(张楚臣) Zhang Chuchen 3rd gen. Zhaobao

(陈善通) Chen Shantong 4th gen. Chen

(陈善志) Chen Shanzhi 4th gen. Chen

(陈继夏) Chen Jixia 4th gen. Chen

(陈节) Chen Jie 4th gen. Chen

(陈敬伯) Chen Jingbo 4th gen. Chen 4th gen. Zhaobao

(陈秉奇) Chen Bingqi 5th gen. Chen

(陈秉壬) Chen Bingren 5th gen. Chen

(陈秉旺) Chen Bingwang 1748–? 5th gen. Chen

(陈公兆) Chen Gongzhao 1715– after 1795 5th gen. Chen

Zhang Zongyu 5th gen. Zhaobao

Chen Changxing 1771–1853 6th gen. Chen Chen Old Frame

Chen Youben c. 19th century 6th gen. Chen Chen Small Frame

(张彦) Zhang Yan 6th gen. Zhaobao

(陈耕耘) Chen Gengyun 7th gen. Chen

(陈仲甡) Chen Zhongshen 1809–1871 7th gen. Chen Chen Small Frame

Yang Luchan 1799–1872 YANG-STYLE Guang Ping Yang Yangjia Michuan

Chen Qingping 1795–1868 7th gen. Chen 7th gen. Zhaobao

Chen Yanxi 8th gen. Chen

(陈鑫) Chen Xin 1849–1929 8th gen. Chen Chen Small Frame

(王兰亭) Wang Lanting 1840–? 2nd gen. Yang

Yang Jianhou 1839–1917 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Yangjia Michuan

Yang Banhou 1837–1892 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Guang Ping Yang Yang Small Frame

Wu Yuxiang 1812–1880 WU (HAO)-STYLE

(和招远) He Zhaoyuan 1810–1890 8th gen. Zhaobao Zhaobao He-style

Chen Fake 1887–1957 9th gen. Chen Chen New Frame

(陈克忠) Chen Kezhong 1908–1966 9th gen. Chen Chen Small Frame

(李瑞东) Li Ruidong 1851–1917 Li-style

Yang Chengfu 1883–1936 3rd gen. Yang Yang Big Frame

Yang Shaohou 1862–1930 3rd gen. Yang Yang Small Frame

Wu Quanyou 1834–1902 1st gen. Wu

(王矯宇) Wang Jiaoyu 1836–1939 3rd gen. Guang Ping Yang

(李亦畬) Li Yiyu 1832–1892 2nd gen. Wu (Hao)

(和庆喜) He Qingxi 1857–1936 9th gen. Zhaobao

(陈照丕) Chen Zhaopi 1893–1972 10th gen. Chen focused on Chen Old Frame

(陈照奎) Chen Zhaokui 1928–1981 10th gen. Chen focused on Chen New Frame

(陈伯祥) Chen Boxiang b. 1944 10th gen. Chen Chen Small Frame

Zhang Qinlin 1888–1967 3rd gen. Yangjia Michuan

Yang Zhenduo 1926–2020 4th gen. Yang

Fu Zhongwen 1903–1994 4th gen. Yang Beijing (24) form

Cheng Man-ch'ing 1902–1975 4th gen. Yang Short (37) Form

Wu Jianquan 1870–1942 2nd gen. Wu WU-STYLE 108 Form

Kuo Lien Ying 1895–1984 4th gen. Guang Ping Yang

Hao Weizhen 1849–1920 3rd gen. Wu (Hao)

(郑悟清) Zheng Wuqing 1895–1984 10th gen. Zhaobao

Wu Gongyi 1900–1970 3rd gen. Wu

Sun Lutang 1861–1932 SUN-STYLE

(郝月如) Hao Yueru 1877–1935 4th gen. Wu (Hao)

(宋蕴华) Song Yunhua 1949-2006 11th gen. Zhaobao

(王延年) Wang Yannian 1914–2008 5th gen. Yang 4th gen. Yangjia Michuan

Cheng Tin Hung 1930–2005 Wudang-style

Wu Yanxia 1930–2001 4th gen. Wu

(孙剑云) Sun Jianyun 1913–2003 2nd gen. Sun

(郝少如) Hao Shaoru 1908–1983 5th gen. Wu (Hao)

Chen Xiaowang b. 1945 11th gen. Chen

(陈小星) Chen Xiaoxing b. 1952 11th gen. Chen

(陆志众) Lu Zhizhong b. 1965 11th gen. Chen Chen Small Frame

Yang Jun b. 1968 5th gen. Yang

Wu Kuang-yu b. 1946 5th gen. Wu

(孙永田) Sun Yongtian b. ? 3rd gen. Sun

(刘积顺) Liu Jishun b. 1930 6th gen. Wu (Hao)

CHEN-STYLE

Chen Small Frame

YANG-STYLE

WU-STYLE

SUN-STYLE

WU (HAO)-STYLE

Connection to Karate

Some Karate scholars theorize about the legendary Chinese master known in Okinawa as Kushanku, being in fact Wang Zongyue

See also

• Doc Fai-Wong; Hallander, Jane Tai Chi Chuan's Internal Secrets (1991) Unique Publications . ISBN 978-0-86568-147-7
• Yang Jwing-Ming Tai Chi Secrets of the Yang Style: Chinese Classics, Translations, Commentary (2001) YMAA Publication Center. ISBN 978-1-886969-09-4

External links

• Louis Swain's English translation of Tai Chi Chuan Treatise
• Index of tai chi classics on Cloud Hands Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Kung